The following information has been sent home to all seniors via email and mail.  It was also handed to seniors at a class meeting on Thursday, May 11.  Please direct questions to either Scott Habeeb, Beth Cook, or Anna Dyer.

Dear Class of 2017 and Parents,

What an exciting and busy time of year this is for those who are nearing the end of their high school journey!  We’re excited for you as you navigate these final weeks of school.  This message is intended to provide you with information about the upcoming school events for seniors.  As the spring progresses, we will continue to send out similar information via School Messenger, Facebook, and Twitter.  We also invite you to sign up for the Class of 2017 Remind Text Service by texting @16-17shs to the phone number 81010.

If, after reading this letter, you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Senior Day, June 2, 2017

Honors Reception and Assembly – 7:30 am – SHS Auditorium

• This event is for those graduates with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher will receive an invitation to this event.
• A continental breakfast reception, catered by SHS Culinary Arts students, will be served in the cafeteria area.
• After the reception, honor graduates and their parents will go to the auditorium where the graduates will be called up to the stage individually for recognition.
• Students should dress professionally for this event.
• Parents and family members are also invited to attend this event.

Senior Awards Assembly – 9:00 am – SHS Auditorium

• This annual event will follow the Honors Reception and Assembly.
• The entire senior class will attend this event.  
• Many, but not all, seniors will be recognized at this event through the awarding of certain scholarships as well as awards from within the school.
• Students who are being recognized have been, or will be, notified.
• Parents of seniors receiving awards are also notified.
• Parents and family members are also invited to attend this event.

Senior Twister Game – 11:00 am – SHS Gymnasium

• Students will be competing in Twister and other games, having a pizza lunch, and treats provided by the PTSA.
• Seniors wishing to compete in the annual Twister competition must sign up with Mrs. Dyer in Room 267 by May 15. ($5.00 per person-teams of 4)
• Seniors wishing to attend the Twister event as a spectator – rather than as a contestant – must also sign up with Mrs. Dyer in Room 267 by May 31. ($3.00 per person)
• Both participants and spectators must pick up an arm band in Room 267 before school on June 2.

Early Dismissal for Seniors – after Twister

• When the Senior Twister Game and related activities are finished, all seniors will be released early from school.  This will probably be around 1:00 pm.

Community Scholarship Celebration, June 6, 2017

Community Scholarship Celebration – 5:15 pm – SHS Cafeteria/Auditorium

• At this event, students who in past years would have received scholarships at graduation from the Salem Educational Foundation, the Salem Sports Foundation, and the Chance Crawford Committee, will be recognized and will receive those scholarships.
• Students who will be attending this event will be notified.
• If you have been notified that you will be receiving a scholarship at this event, please make sure you have sent your RSVP to Mrs. Chitwood in our Guidance Office by Tuesday May 30th.
• If you have been invited to this event, your attendance is expected and essential. Parents and family members are also invited to attend this event.
• Graduates will wear their caps and gowns to this event.
• The event will begin in the cafeteria at 5:15 pm with hors d’oeuvres prepared by SHS Culinary Arts students.
• The ceremony will begin promptly at 6:00 pm in the auditorium. Graduates will sit together on the right-hand side of the auditorium.
• Following the ceremony there will be a dessert catered by SHS Culinary Art students and an opportunity for pictures taken by a professional photographer.

Turning in Chromebooks

Chromebooks Must Be Turned In Prior to Graduation

• • Chromebook collection will take place all day in the library from Friday, June 2, until Friday, June 9.
  • As soon as you no longer need the Chromebook for school purposes, take it to the library.
  • Students will be asked to demonstrate that the Chromebook still works.
  • Chromebooks that are lost or damaged beyond the replacement period must be paid for prior to students being allowed to walk in graduation.
  • Students who do not turn in their Chromebook prior to graduation will not be allowed to participate in the graduation ceremony.

Baccalaureate Service, June 11, 2017

Student-Run Service for Graduates – 6:00 pm – Fellowship Community Church

• The student leadership of the SHS Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Club annually invites graduating seniors and their families to a Baccalaureate service run by student members of the FCA.
• This year’s service will be held at 6:00 pm at Fellowship Community Church.
• This is an informal family event and seniors should not wear their caps and gowns.
• A reception will be held immediately following the service.  In order to determine how much to prepare for the reception the student leadership of the FCA requests seniors to RSVP for the service.  You can RSVP at the following link: https://goo.gl/forms/vTonKIsGJ3beaRKI2, which will also be placed on the SHS website.  

Graduation Day, June 14, 2017

Senior Breakfast – 8:00 am – SHS Cafeteria

• On graduation day, an honorary breakfast will be held for the Class of 2017 and faculty at 8:00 am in the cafeteria.
• Dress for the breakfast is casual.  
• The senior class will take a senior group picture in the gym after the breakfast before going to graduation practice.

Graduation Practice – after the Senior Breakfast – Salem Civic Center

• This is a mandatory event for all students who will be participating in our commencement exercises.  
• Dress for graduation practice is casual.  You do not need your cap and gown.
• Graduates will ride buses, leaving from SHS at 8:30 am, to the Salem Civic Center following the Senior Breakfast.
• Students will not be allowed to drive themselves to or from Graduation Practice.  All students must ride the bus and will be dismissed from school after arriving back at SHS.

Commencement Exercises – June 14 – 2:00 pm – Salem Civic Center

• If you do not intend to participate in this year’s commencement exercises, please inform Mrs. Chitwood in our Guidance Office immediately.

Attire, Caps, and Gowns

• Graduates must wear either dress pants with a dress shirt and tie or a dress that does not hang below the gown.  Dress shoes are required. Athletic shoes are not permitted.
• The graduation cap should be parallel to the floor with the larger point of the crown to the back. Tassels should be to the right until Mr. Habeeb declares you graduates. Graduates will be allowed to appropriately decorate their graduation caps.
• Your gown should be pressed with a slightly warm iron.
• If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Dyer (adyer@salem.k12.va.us) or Mrs. Cook (bcook@salem.k12.va.us).

The Ceremony

• Preceding the graduation ceremony, students will be lining up in the Civic Center Annex.  Parents can drop them off on either side of the Civic Center no later than 1:30 pm, and students can enter directly into the Annex.  The Annex is located behind the main Civic Center floor, closer to Memorial Stadium.
• As students’ names are called at graduation, their picture will be projected on a large screen behind the stage.  Along with the picture, we will project 2 or 3 items about the student.  We have asked students to tell us what they would like to have shared.  We are looking for school involvement, athletic teams and clubs, honors received, outside of school activities (such as church youth groups, Young Life, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, etc.), and what students will be doing next year (workforce, military, college, etc).  If you have not yet shared your 2 or 3 facts with us, please do so immediately by taking the following survey: https://goo.gl/forms/dWuRfSr4ZAvh6YFl2.  This link will also be placed on the school website.
• Salem High School graduates do not spray silly string or throw celebratory objects at graduation.  We are the only school of the 6 that use the Civic Center whose graduates in past years have made “celebratory messes.”  This is unfair to the Civic Center staff who must get the Civic Center cleaned up for other purposes.  

Graduation Memories

• Photography is provided by Lifetouch. Families can preorder a Senior Class picture and/or a picture of the student receiving their diploma on stage. Lifetouch will be sending an order form to families. If you did not receive one, or would like additional ordering information, please contact them at 540-389-9155.
• A video of the graduation ceremony can be ordered through Video Ventures. An order form is included with this mailing. If you would like additional information, please contact them at 540-537-1418.

We are so excited to be a part of this important time in your life!  Please let us know if you have questions.

Thank you,
Mr. Scott Habeeb, Mrs. Anna Dyer, and Mrs. Beth Cook

In preparation for spring SOL testing, students should:

• Immediately notify the IT department if their Chromebooks have any issues, such as cracked screens or missing keys, in time to get these issues resolved before testing days.
• Fully charge their Chromebooks the nights before all tests.
• Avoid any preplanned absenses, tardies, or early dismissals on testing days.

Listed below are the testing dates.  All testing begins at 8:00 AM unless otherwise noted.  Thank you.